Rick Lowe
On Friday, December 11, 2009, in a Letter to the Editor of The Nassau Guardian, Mr. Dwayne J. Hanna tells us that, "…the disparity between the wealthy and the poor has grown so dramatically over the past few years that it has significantly contributed to the weakening of our social fabric…."
While I have no issue with the rest of his letter or his hope that Bahamian entrepreneurs might be allowed access to foreign capital, the above statement raises more questions than answers.
- Where is the data that "…the disparity between the wealthy and the poor has grown so dramatically over the past few years…"? and,
- How does this difference contribute to "…the weakening of our social fabric…."?
When my grandfather had to go barefoot, like many other Bahamians, the wealth that existed in those days did not impact their concern for each other, nor their ethics.
The social fabric was stronger if I read history correctly.
Is Mr. Hanna implying that poor people are jealous of wealthy people so they don't care about anyone else? That the poor are so blinded by this that they do not attempt instill ethics, the desire to improve their lot and just plain common sense into their children?
A famous book reminds us that the poor will always be with us, but by creating the impression that people are poor because others are rich is a disingenuous analogy.
Without the creation of wealth, we would have even more poor among us. I am grateful for those people that have the foresight and ability to create things and jobs that the rest of us can find work to help make our lives better.
Would it be better if we were all poor?
I don't particularly want to go back to living in the dark ages.
The reality is the wealthy are helping the social fabric.
It is no surprise that bad logic and reasoning surfaces from time to time, and this is a perfect example.
As government casts about looking for a sutable demon to blame for current fiscal and societal strife, citizenry will do the same, following the training and directives of bad leadership.
Bad policy in good times can slide, or appear to work, but when the going gets tough, the cracks appear, and it becomes more critical to make good decisions.
The pressure will mount.
STATISM is on its way …. and a decrease in individual rights and respective way of life is in ascention.
C Lowe I concur!!!
Obviously, in a democracy, inequality matters. When people feel left behind, populism expands and freedom comes under attack.
The challenge is, how do we regulate the economy in a way that will protect fundamental rights, especially for those who are least prosperous?
Thanks Bahamas B2B.
Can you explain how we would “regulate the economy in a way that will protect fundamental rights, especially for those who are least prosperous”?
Fix the Bloody courts, and re-establish governmental function under the Constitution
The further we stray from its edicts, the worse off we will be.
Fundamental rights?
How about the right to freedom of speech, the right to property and the right to persue productivity without some government hack blocking your way?
All others are earned, not given.
This is starting to get down right scary.Stop expecting someone to do something for you, pull yourself up by your bootstraps & get on with it.Nobody said it would be easy.Every body seems to have this entitlement thing going on, it is bull crap.My father grew up very poor as well & he wanted to do well to make it better for his family.He did that through hard work & determination.Nobody gave him anything,he earned it.
Thank you DP. …. since there are folk whom have attained personal success – coming from an impoverished community – establishes the truth in the hypothesis of personal responsibility, self reliance and self sufficiency ….. many in the population of the Bahamas are like infants being weaned off a pacifier … it will take some time for the reality to set in – nonetheless, in the interim we are in a ship thats sinking…
Mr/Mrs Bahamasb2b passionate statement proves the forthcoming of STATISM in this nation …..
Hanna, we don’t know what you mean by our statement proving the coming of “statism”. What it proves is that the poor and the marginalized are here to stay and must be factored into any plans for national development… not ignored or dismissed.
I encourage you to research the meaning of the word … and then make an analysis , as I and others whom have commented on this thread thus far – to the remarks you made earlier in the discussion … of which we are still awaiting an explanation thereto – as Rick made inquiry to your meaning of: Direct Quote, “The challenge is, how do we regulate the economy in a way that will protect fundamental rights, especially for those who are least prosperous”